AM Best's Holzberger and Diodato: Insurers Respond to Rising Cat Losses with De-Risking, Rate

Stefan Holzberger and Anthony Diodato, both of AM Best, said mutual insurers are de-risking portfolios, pursuing rate adequacy, adjusting terms and conditions, and implementing inflation-adjustable metrics in pricing algorithms. Both spoke with AM Best TV at NAMIC's 129th Annual Convention, held in Denver.

Matt Stull, director of data science for LexisNexis Risk Solutions, discusses insights from a 2024 Life Insurance Mortality Risk Management Study that examines how integrating medical and behavioral data can improve mortality assessments, expand accessibility, and reduce underwriting biases for underserved populations.

A panel of insurance technologists gathered by AM Best TV at the WSIA Annual Marketplace in San Diego said workers whose roles are being changed or eliminated by technology could be retrained and upskilled to fill other, particularly relationship-focused, positions in the industry.

A panel gathered by AM Best TV at the WSIA Annual Marketplace in San Diego said a shift toward longer-tail claims represents a change in the cyber insurance landscape to which the industry is still adjusting.

Peter Drogan, SVP and chief actuary, Amica Mutual Insurance Co., explains that aided by advanced analytics, AI-driven tools, and an increasing need for long-term risk management, today’s actuaries are adapting to powerful new methods that enhance their expertise.

AM Best Senior Industry Research Analyst David Lopes discusses a new Best's Special Report that finds, despite the rise in holdings, investment income declined for a second straight year.

Scott Smidlein, head of the energy practice at HSB, said the sector has to be aware of policy lag and not rely on outdated forms to keep up with a quickly evolving risk landscape.

Stewart Foley, host of the InsuranceAUM podcast, discusses how he delves into the latest trends, challenges and opportunities to provide listeners with perspectives and practical advice in the world of insurance asset management.

Chantal Roberts, CMR Consulting, discusses her new book "Once Upon a Claim, Fairy Tales to Protect Your Assets." The book incorporates insurance principles into familiar fairy tales, nursery rhymes and fables to make complex concepts more accessible.